Ithaca Country Pumpkin Ale (7/10)

Country Pumpkin Ale is produced by Ithaca Beer Co. in Ithaca, New York.  It’s available from August through October.

It pours slightly cloudy reddish brown with a finger-thick off-white head.

The aroma is spicy and malty, with a definite ginger note. 

The flavor follows the aroma. Ginger is a prominent element of the flavor, with the pumpkin “funkiness” following it closely.  There is a kind of molasses or brown sugar sourness to it.  Nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon are present, but very hard to pick out.  The finish is a little dry and bitter.

Beer Advocate gives Ithaca Country Pumpkin an 84/100 or “good” rating.  Ratebeer is a little tougher on it, giving it a 70/100.  I like it, but I’m going to side with Ratebeer on this.  I don’t like it as well overall as I do Uinta Punk’n, which got an 8/10.  But it’s a good beer, so I’m giving it a 7/10.

Pumpkin Beer Flavor Profile:
More standard beer flavor or more spiced ale:  Beer
Pumpkin intensity:  Low
Spice intensity:  Medium
Malty or hoppy:  Malty
Sweet, balanced, or dry:  Balanced
Dominant flavor:  Ginger
ABV:  6.3%
IBU:  Unknown, but estimate in the 18-20 range
My Rating: 7/10